How to sew cool pillows. We sew cool pillows: step-by-step master classes. Home comfort with a knitted decorative pillow

To realize the idea of ​​​​decorating decorative furniture, it will take little time, money, the main thing is imagination.

Why are they needed?

You can arrange decorative pillows on sofas, armchairs, ottomans, in any room, especially a nursery, in a hall. Why do some people decide not to buy ready-made models, but to make them themselves? Firstly, you can create an original version, made with love, only with your hands. Secondly, it is cheaper to remake an old unnecessary thing or create it yourself from improvised materials.

Decorative furniture will be a good gift option for family and friends. The main rule is that they should fit the design of the room in which they will be located. Therefore, to make it easy for yourself, when preparing a gift, you must first find out the design of the room for which they will be intended.

Schemes, patterns

The first thing to do is create a pattern. Only experienced professionals can engage in tailoring any products “by eye”. And then far from always the result of such a negligent attitude will be an even, neat thing. It is convenient to use the pattern - it is enough to calculate the measurements on paper in order to avoid mistakes.

Thanks to the modeling of the pattern, it will be possible to facilitate the sewing process. It will also be possible to create as many identical products as you like according to the same scheme.

Creating a pattern takes place in several stages:

  • We determine the size, draw a square, a rectangle on paper, add 1.5 cm on each side.
  • We transfer the pattern to a double fabric, sew, leaving a small opening for stuffing, turn inside out.
  • We are making a pillowcase. We make a second pattern, which differs from the first in size - each side should be a couple of centimeters larger.

If you have experience in creating similar products, it is not necessary to be limited to a square or rectangular shape. It is better to start with it for beginners. You can create more interesting patterns:

  • owl;
  • "boa constrictor" - under the head;
  • elephant, etc.

To fulfill any of your ideas, you just need to draw them on paper, then transfer them to the fabric. Nevertheless, in most cases, when they are intended for the decor of the hall, living room, it is better to choose the classic options. They will be rectangular, square in shape.

Master classes. How to sew?

The easiest way is to take a finished thing, decorate it, making it suitable for the design of the room. Some needlewomen decide to create everything with their own hands, for this it is not enough to create a pattern. It is necessary to pay attention to such moments as the choice of fabric, stuffing, threads. It is necessary to proceed to the solution of decoration issues only after a successful attempt to sew it.

Textile

When deciding which fabric to choose, it is necessary to consider not only the availability of the material, but also its suitability for the chosen style. The texture, colors should be suitable, complement the overall design of the room.

The most commonly used materials are:

  • cotton;
  • sackcloth;
  • velours;
  • fleece;
  • jeans;
  • atlas;

Advice

As for the use of fur, it can use both artificial and natural. However, for children's rooms, people with allergies, artificial can be harmful.

In some cases, several types of fabrics may be used, however, it is important to ensure that they are compatible. Otherwise, it will not be easy to sew them, the finished product will turn out to be sloppy, it will be difficult to decorate it. Experienced seamstresses adhere to the following rules:

  • The selected fabric may not match the upholstery of the sofa, other furniture, which will complement the product. It is in itself a design decision, the peculiarity of which can be emphasized.
  • The color of the fabric may also differ from the shade of the furniture, but they must be combined with each other. If the sofa is brown, the appropriate color for the additional elements will be orange, yellow, beige.
  • If there is a pattern on the fabric, it should not be too sticky. A bright, multi-colored pattern becomes a separate design element. In this case, further decoration with different techniques is inappropriate.
  • It is necessary to pay attention to the rules for the care of the selected material. Sooner or later it will have to be washed, especially if it is made in bright colors. The simpler the material, the easier it will be to care for it.
  • When choosing a fabric, it is important to think over the stuffing of the product in advance. If hard feathers are to be used for it, the material must be strong enough to hold them.

Over time, all living creatures start up in natural stuffings, especially if the products are not given to dry cleaning, they are not provided with proper care. The result may be that a person will have an allergy, even if he is just in a room, no one sleeps on it.

If you want to make stuffing from natural material, be sure to use a new one. Do not forget to provide him with the necessary care.

Plant stuffing has a short service life, because the plants need to be replaced. Often used:

  • medicinal herbs;
  • bamboo;
  • hop cones.

It is believed that such material is very beneficial for health. It is important to consider that if the healing properties are really present, then not for long. In this case, a small amount of moisture will be enough to form rot.

Synthetic materials have the least disadvantages, which is why many people choose them. The most commonly used synthetic winterizer, foam rubber, holofiber. These stuffing materials are affordable, budget-friendly, and do not cause allergies. If it is not possible to purchase such materials, you can use those that you have at home:

  • cotton wool;
  • silicone balls.

Threads

When choosing threads, two important factors must be taken into account: they must be of high quality so that the product does not come apart at the seams. Also, they should be combined with the selected fabric. The main rules are:

  • The threads should match the fabric in color. The more suitable the shade is, the less attention the applied seams will attract.
  • If it is not possible to use a precisely matched shade, you must choose a few tones darker. When the thread is lighter than the fabric, unnecessary attention is focused on it.
  • The threads must match the width of the fabric. Too thin will not be able to firmly fasten the matter, too thick will simply break it. Those used for decoration should also fit in width so that the embroidery or other pattern looks neat.
  • If a machine will be used when sewing a product, the correct needle must be selected for the thread. In addition, the top and bottom threads must be the same.

The most common type of thread suitable for sewing many products is cotton, especially combined with natural fabrics: linen, cotton. Depending on the material, polyester, viscose, silk, woolen threads can also be used.

Step-by-step instruction

After choosing the fabric, stuffing and threads, you can proceed to sewing. The easiest way is to use a machine. But if this is not possible, you can make neat seams with your hands, no worse. If you make a product with your own hands, you will need the following tools:

  • scissors;
  • ruler;
  • marker or chalk (depending on the density of the selected fabric);
  • needle.

Sofa option

The principle of sewing sofa products does not differ from the above: first, fabric, stuffing, threads are selected. Then a pattern is created, according to which the product is sewn.

rules

  • Fabric compatibility. It is possible that you will not be able to find exactly the same material from which the sofa is made. In any case, the fabric should be dense, silk, satin will be inappropriate options.
  • Color. The shade of sofa accessories is often different from the sofa itself. On brown it can be beige, on green it can be yellow, on black it can be red. Therefore, the color does not have to be identical, the main thing is that they are combined.
  • Stuffing. They must be dense, so it is best to use a dense synthetic winterizer, another similar material.

Sofa cushions are difficult to leave solely for the decor of the room, everyone who sits on it will lean on them. This must be taken into account when decorating, perhaps a good option would not be a separate decoration, but simply a choice of multi-colored fabric with a pattern.

Pillow Decorating Methods

The easiest way to decorate is to use different colors. You can make several pieces that differ from each other, you can combine different colors in one. For a hall with a set of furniture: a sofa, armchairs, you can play with colors, changing them for each item.

For children's rooms, an interesting option would be cartoon colors - you can make several options with different characters of the same cartoon. You can use multiple scenarios.

More complex decoration options are:

  • applications;
  • knitting;
  • embroidery;
  • relief creation.

Despite the complexity of implementation, many note that each time it becomes easier to use these techniques. With their help, you can create beautiful compositions for different interiors.

Applications

Applique is a good and easy way to decorate. You can pick up any drawing for it, come up with it yourself or find a ready-made template on the Internet. The only caveat is that you should not opt ​​for too sloppy images in which there are a lot of details. If you make the slightest mistake, you can completely ruin the product.

Some needlewomen never throw away worn clothes, they give it a second life - they cut out large and small details. If you collect them for some time, by the time of sewing, the elements for the appliqué will be selected.

Form, fragments

The more complex the shape, the more difficult it is to sew and care for. However, it is the products of the original form that look unusual. If you are good at sewing square, rectangular pillows, you can try moving on to more complex ones.

Technologists distinguish four main forms:

  • Square. It is considered a classic option, suitable for sofas, armchairs, ottomans. A product of this form is also practical - it is convenient to lean on it, sit down.
  • Rectangular. It is also a classic option used for furniture of massive sizes. Rectangular cushions can balance the large size, give an aesthetic look to the largest sofa.
  • Round. The main disadvantage of this form is the difficulty in creating a pattern, sewing. When sewing a product with right angles, it is easy to manipulate the seams, create bends, with a round shape it is more and more difficult. However, round decorative pieces are a good way to smooth out the sharp, straight lines of austere sofas.
  • oval(roller). The main place of application of pillows of this form is the decoration of leather sofas.

An interesting design option is the creation of geometric fragments that change the overall shape of the pillow. This addition looks especially good on corner sofas.

Do-it-yourself decorative pillows, patterns, photos, patterns for the manufacture of which you can find in this article will help to refresh the interior without significant investments and give the room more comfort and warmth. There is nothing better than beautiful pillows that the mistress of the house worked on. They can become an excellent decoration of the room and a real pride.

There can be a lot of options on how to sew a decorative pillow for the home, it all depends on the artist's imagination and on what materials are planned to be used in the work. In the manufacture of decorative pillows, various accessories are often used, so they turn out to be unusual and very beautiful.

Decorative pillows will help to refresh the interior without significant investments and give the room more comfort and warmth.

Do-it-yourself decorative pillow itself can be made ordinary and used as a filler synthetic winterizer or holofiber.

These materials are much better suited for decorative pillows, as they do not roll and keep their shape perfectly, unlike fluff or cotton wool. Moreover, these products are lightweight and comfortable. The main element of a decorative pillow is a pillowcase. Much depends on how interesting it will be made. Sometimes it is pillows that make up an important part of the interior and give it originality.

Do-it-yourself decorative pillow itself can be made ordinary and used as a filler synthetic winterizer or holofiber

For example, in the Scandinavian style, where restraint in decor and colors is welcomed, you can dilute the atmosphere with bright decorative pillows. But not only in restrained minimalist styles, decorative pillows will be relevant. With their help, you can achieve a more interesting effect in other areas of the design of the room.

Also note the shape. Pillows that will be used to decorate the room, and not for sleeping, can be absolutely anything. It is not at all necessary to make simple squares or rectangles. Both oval and round pillows look great, as well as products in the form of animals and letters. The latter option can be a good addition when decorating a children's room.

Sometimes it is pillows that make up an important part of the interior and give it originality.

If the master came up with the idea to decorate the interior of his room with decorative pillows, you must first determine the style. Only after the direction is chosen, you can think about the shape, color and material. DIY decorative pillows, photos of which can be found in this article, will be relevant for many styles. They perfectly emphasize the French country (Provence, retro style, romantic shabby chic with its excessive sophistication), and are also an excellent addition to the children's room.

The most popular are natural materials from which you can make decorative pillows for children, Provence-style bedrooms

After the master decides on the direction, you can move on to the material. For each style, the color and type of fabric should be special. The most popular are natural materials from which you can make decorative pillows for children, bedrooms in the style of Provence and the Scandinavian direction. Shabby chic or classic require more interesting solutions. Silk, satin, etc. may be relevant here.

Advice! If the pillows will decorate the room in country style, you can choose simple fabrics in natural colors and rough textures.

Fittings are welcome in romanticism and French rustic style

As for fittings, they are welcomed in romanticism and French rustic style. When decorating a room with pillows in the Scandinavian direction, you should not use buttons, stripes and various additions, since minimalism is welcomed here. The product can be bright, but without unnecessary details.

Hi-tech and minimalism do not welcome pillows at all. If the master still wants to decorate such an interior with soft decoration, you need to carefully choose colors and shapes. It is better to make an ordinary square decorative pillow with your own hands from artificial smooth fabric, for example, leatherette.

It is better to make an ordinary square decorative pillow with your own hands from artificial smooth fabric, for example, leatherette

It is a pleasure for a creative person to work with a children's room. Here you can let your imagination run wild and come up with something original that will delight the baby every day. One of the fairly new trends is decorating the interior of a children's room with letter pillows. From them you can collect a word, for example, the name of the baby. It is both useful and interesting, and very original. But not only letters and numbers will be suitable for a child's room. Decorative pillows in the form of animals or fruits look good. They are very easy to make according to the patterns that can be found at the end of the article.

It is a pleasure for a creative person to work with a children's room

In order to sew a decorative pillow with your own hands, you must follow certain rules.

First of all, they relate to the choice of material. It should be natural, not electrified and not cause allergies. Be very careful when using accessories. If the pillow is in the form of an animal, you should not make eyes out of buttons or glue false doll eyes. This can be very dangerous as small parts come off easily and can be swallowed or choked by a child. It is best to limit yourself to embroidery. It's both beautiful and safe.

If the craftswoman has enough free time, it is worth surprising loved ones with new bright and stylish home accessories.

How to make a pattern for a pillow?

If the question arose of how to sew a decorative pillow, then first you need to make a pattern. Firstly, it is convenient and also avoids mistakes, and secondly, you can make several exact copies of pillows that will perfectly match in size. This is important, as irregularities are sometimes very striking and can spoil the whole effect of the presence of pillows.

It is best to make a pattern of a decorative pillow with your own hands and immediately draw up a drawing for a pillowcase

It is best to make a pattern of a decorative pillow with your own hands and immediately draw up a drawing for a pillowcase. So it will be more convenient to work and make calculations, because the pillowcase should be several centimeters larger than the pillow itself.

Overlock is used to make a decorative pillow with your own hands

As for how to sew a decorative pillow with your own hands, it is worth noting that this does not require any special education or sophisticated equipment. Of course, it is much easier to work when there is a sewing machine and an overlocker at home, but if they are not available, all the work can be done manually, although it will take much longer in time.

Sewing machine for making decorative pillows with your own hands

When drawing up a pattern, you need to determine the desired size of the pillow, make a square or rectangle on paper, and then add 1.5 cm to it for the seam. The pattern for a decorative pillow is transferred to a double fabric, everything is sewn up to a certain point, and then turned inside out. It is important not to forget that the product will need to be filled with padding polyester. To do this, you need to leave a small opening. Through it, the blank for the pillow will turn out, and then it will be filled with synthetic filler. This opening is then neatly stitched on the front side.

Next, you can start making pillowcases. For her, you also need to make your own pattern based on the first one, but plus 2-3 cm. It is also unnecessary to forget that the pillowcase must have a special hole. If zippers or buttons are not used here, you need to leave a longer strip of fabric on one side, it will later need to be folded inward so that it holds the pillow and prevents it from falling out of the pillowcase.

On a note! Professional seamstresses use special seams in the manufacture of bed linen, including pillowcases.

They make products more durable, but this is not necessary for a decorative pillow. If possible, you can overlock the seams or simply sheathe them by hand.

Pillow shape

It is not at all necessary to make a decorative product of the correct form. The most popular are rectangles and squares, but the pillow can be oval, round or in the form of a letter and an animal.

The most popular are rectangles and squares, but the pillow can be oval, round or in the form of a letter and an animal

For each type, you must first take care of drawing up a pattern. For complex shapes, you can find options in special editions, and simple ordinary do-it-yourself decorative pillows are easy to make according to your own drawings.

It is important to immediately think over not only the shape, but also the option of decorating the pillow. This is of great importance, otherwise the product will not look harmonious. The size of the pillow also needs to be selected carefully. For the living room, you should not use large pillows so that they do not litter the room. But for the nursery, you can sew a large flat pillow, on which it will be convenient for the baby to play, and parents will not worry that their child will freeze.

How to decorate a decorative pillow?

The decoration of the pillowcase must be approached responsibly. Even in cases where it is undesirable to use small accessories, you can decorate a decorative pillow with your own hands in a very original way so that it becomes a real highlight of the room. To do this, you can use traditional satin stitch or cross-stitch embroidery, as well as decoration with ribbons and yarn. Needlewomen use lace, sequins, appliqués, folds, puffs and much more to work on decorative pillows. The most patient can create whole embroidered pictures and use even small beads to create them.

Pillowcase decoration must be approached responsibly

One of the most interesting and low-cost versions is the creation of a pillowcase from puffs. This is the stitching of the surface of the fabric in a certain order, which gives the product a certain volume. The work is carried out in a strictly defined form and in a clear order. This allows you to get a very interesting drawing.

Puff pillows look very original, but keep in mind that such a pillowcase will take much more time than the standard version. This must be remembered when distributing tissue. The technique of creating puffs allows you to create various patterns. Best of all, these pillows look in a classic interior or when decorating a room in a shabby chic style.

Embroidered pictures will make a decorative pillow not just a home decoration, but a work of art that will not leave guests indifferent

Ribbon embroidery will be no less interesting. Needlewomen know how to create real masterpieces from this simple material. Embroidered pictures will make a decorative pillow not just a home decoration, but a work of art that will not leave guests indifferent. Working with tapes is not difficult. Therefore, this option is well suited even for beginner craftswomen. It is better to work according to a pre-prepared scheme. A suitable version can be downloaded from the worldwide web.

Advice! Another simple but interesting decoration option is appliqués for decorative pillows.

They are well suited for both the living room and the children's room, the main thing is to choose the right motive. The easiest option would be applications in the form of emoticons or circles. The stripes in the form of letters and animals also look interesting. In a classic style, flowers and artsy patterns will look best.

An interesting decoration option is applications for decorative pillows.

If the master knows several design techniques, you can combine them. This will create the most interesting options.

Shabby chic

This style should be given special attention, since it is here that decorative pillows will be most relevant. Puffs in all possible variants are ideal for shabby chic. Embroidery and lace are also welcome here. Lace pillowcases are very easy to sew and look great in combination with other options.

Puffs in all possible variants are ideal for shabby chic

Sizes of pillows for shabby chic style can be different. You can make several small products, and a couple of large ones, and it’s also unnecessary to forget about cushion covers for stools, which will perfectly complement the exquisite design. Buttons, braid and light colors are integral parts of the design of decorative pillows in a romantic style.

Children's products

In the kids' room, pillows can be toys at the same time. Making them is very easy if you choose the right materials and pattern. Animals and birds are best suited for decorating a children's room. Owls, cats and dogs are very popular with needlewomen. But it is quite possible that the child will give preference to other living creatures.

In the kids' room, pillows can be toys at the same time.

Pillows in the form of numbers and letters will help to teach the baby from an early age to read and math. They are comfortable and look nice. The main rule is to respect the proportion and work according to a predetermined scheme.

DIY decorative pillows are a great option to decorate the room and add originality to it, but without spending a lot of money.

DIY decorative pillows are a great option to decorate the room and add originality to it, but without spending a lot of money. If the craftswoman has enough free time, it is worth surprising her loved ones with new bright and stylish home accessories.

Pillows in the form of numbers and letters will help your child learn to read and math from an early age.

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To update the interior of the children's room and make the baby's bed more comfortable, it is enough to decorate it with a couple of decorative pillows. We offer creative mothers to sew them with their own hands, because this is done quickly, simply and on a budget. The main thing here is to come up with an interesting design and choose the right materials.

In this article, we have collected 30 inspiring photo examples of baby pillows for beginners and experienced craftswomen, and also prepared 3 step-by-step DIY sewing workshops:

  1. Pillows-toys in the form of a cloud.
  2. Letter pillows.
  3. Patchwork pillows.
  • Combine different pillows with each other, so the interior will be more fun. The composition can be combined by the shape, color or print of products. When choosing fabrics, it is easiest to focus on the colors and patterns of the wallpaper, as well as on the rest of the textiles in the children's room. For example, pillows can echo curtains, sofa upholstery and, of course, a blanket.
  • Thinking about the style and decor of the future product, consider the style of the interior. If, say, bright toy pillows can be sewn for a modern interior, then products of soothing colors and traditional styles in the form of rollers and pillows with ruffles or tassels are more suitable for a modern interior, as in the photo below.





  • For sewing baby pillows, it is advisable to use natural and dense fabrics (linen, cotton), which are much easier to wash, say, felt, and look much more beautiful than synthetics like fleece.
  • Before sewing, the fabric should be washed and ironed, then you will sew already taking into account the shrinkage of the material.
  • It's clear that baby pillows need to be washed frequently, but how do you wash decorative pillows that don't have pillowcases and need to keep their shape at all times? As a filler for children's spy toys and soft sides, we recommend using:
  1. Sintepuh (not to be confused with synthetic winterizer);
  2. Holofiber.

These materials are hypoallergenic, keep their shape well after washing, and they can be washed in a washing machine at low temperature even with a spin cycle. Unfortunately, synthetic winterizer, natural fluff, buckwheat, batting, foam rubber and other fillers do not have such properties.

  • If you want to make a decorative and sleeping pillow at the same time, for example, a cushion or a side for a crib, then it is recommended to sew not just a pillow, but a pillowcase with a pillowcase. After all, removable pillowcases are much easier to wash, besides, by sewing one pillowcase and a pair of matching pillowcases, you can update the interior according to your mood.

Master class number 1: Sweater cloud pillow

As you know, the world of children's interiors has its own trends, and such pillows in the form of clouds are just at the peak of popularity. They are good because they are easy to sew, look cute and are suitable for decorating the room of both a boy and a girl. In this master class, we will tell you how to sew a soft cloud with your own hands from any sweater in a pleasant color.

Materials:

  1. Sweater (preferably made of polyester, not acrylic. By the way, instead of a sweater, you can take an old cotton sweatshirt, T-shirt, etc.);
  2. Sintepukh;
  3. Sewing accessories;
  4. Sewing machine (if any);
  5. Paper for making patterns.

Step 1. We draw a pattern on paper in the form of a cloud or any other figure that you like.

Step 2. Turn the sweater inside out (!) and attach the resulting template (including the back layer of fabric) to it with pins as shown in the photo. Then we trace the contour of the cloud and begin to cut out blanks with an indent of about 0.7 mm (for allowances).

Step. 3. Now we begin to grind the two parts of the pillow along the previously drawn contour, but be sure to leave about 10 cm unsewn.

Step 4. In the places where the cloud is rounded and in the corners, we make cuts - this will make the shape of the pillow neater and more correct.

Step 5. Turn the pillow inside out and stuff it tightly with filler, helping yourself, for example, with a Chinese stick. Lastly, close the opening with a blind stitch.

Woo-ala! The baby pillow is ready!

Based on this master class, you will be able to sew pillows of various shapes and colors. For example, a cloud may have arms and legs, beady eyes and rosy felt cheeks.





Instead of a cloud, you can sew a star, a raindrop, a moon, a heart or candy. See examples of such pillows in the following selection of photos.





Master class number 2: Pillow-letter

And now we offer to sew another simple, but original letter pillow, which will help to personalize the nursery or bed, if, for example, there are more children.

Materials:

  1. Textile;
  2. Sintepukh;
  3. Sewing accessories;
  4. Sewing machine.

By combining 3 types of fabric, you can use leftover leftovers and make the pillow design more fun.

Step 1. Select a letter, draw it (or print it in A4 format) and cut it out along the contour.

Step 2. Now we need to cut out two parts of the pillow - front and back.

  • To cut the front of the pillow, you need to: on the fabric lying face up, put our template with the same face up, circle it and then cut out the blank.
  • To cut out the back side of the letter, you need to: do everything the same, but first turn the template upside down, that is, according to the principle of mirror reflection.

Step 3. Now you should prepare the sidewall of the pillow.

  • Its length should be equal to the perimeter of the letter + 2 cm for allowances. You determine the width of the sidewall yourself, for example, it can be 4 cm, then, taking into account the 2 cm allowance for the seams, the width of the workpiece will be 6 cm.

But since you probably won't be able to cut out a single strip of fabric, you will need to cut several strips of the same width and sew them together to end up with one strip of the desired length.

Step 4. Sew the sidewall to the first letter. To do this, we fold them facing each other and begin to grind around the entire perimeter of the workpiece.

  • For convenience, the side strip can be attached with pins.

We repeat the same procedure with the second half of the pillow, but leave a small segment unfinished.

Sewing pillows with your own hands means not only saving on bedding, but also decorating your interior, giving it a personality with simple and inexpensive means. Looking at photos of homemade pillows on the Internet, it may seem that a lot of experience or innate talent is needed here. But the same tasks can be solved much easier, and certainly, while sewing pillows, there is an opportunity to go from simple to complex, eventually creating things worthy of prizes at exhibitions of amateur art. This article is intended to help readers overcome several stages of this path.

What you need to know right away

It is not always possible to sew original pillows as simple sleeping pillows, in the form of a base and pillowcases. That's why special attention should be paid to the choice of fabric and padding. The pillow is conducive to sleep, and someone will fall asleep on it sometime. Probably tired, with unwashed and unkempt hair; That is, the sheathing fabric should not only accept the finish well, but also be amenable to cleaning. And best of all, the stuffing can be removed and the cover washed without spoiling its decor. In addition, the stuffing itself should retain hygienic qualities, elasticity and be moderately pliable for as long as possible. We will return to pillow materials that meet these requirements, but for now we will discuss ways to decorate them from simple to complex, keeping the above in mind.

Pillow Decorating Methods

Colors

The easiest way to sew decorative pillows in the same way as ordinary sleeping pillows is to choose the color of the fabric. And the simplest of the simplest solutions - several pillows of different colors, forming an ensemble inscribed in the interior. In this way, you can not only turn the boudoir of a cocotte into something similar to a soft fluffy cloud, but also express the individuality of laconic interior styles. Such work, I must say, is mentally very difficult, but technologically and financially elementary. For example, on the left in Fig. the sofa with a composition of pillows is not in vain placed against the backdrop of a window (picture?) with live greenery contrasting with the general tone, and the flower in a vase is placed to the right of the sofa for good reason.

In the center in Fig. a method based on similar aesthetic principles, but not requiring a laconic interior and a special organization for the placement of its objects. The point here is that the background of the upholstery of the furniture and the upholstery of the pillow is the same, as well as the tone and density of the pattern here and there, but the patterns of the patterns are somewhat different. And the pillow is highlighted with a wide, so-called. French, edging, the same as the general background, but darker in color; the color scheme is slightly lighter on the lower and side parts of the furniture upholstery.

Finally, on the right in Fig. shows a way to give the pillow a choice of fabric colors, as they say, aesthetic self-sufficiency, i.e. the ability to express the meaning inherent in it by the craftswoman in any situation. Imagine such a pillow in ... a garbage dump. Will she look worse? And the point here is not only and not so much in the choice of 2-3, no more, catchy flowers that make up a fairly large pattern, but also in the arrangement of stylized images of flowers on the visible surface of the thing.

Applications and printing

Only a little more technically, but no less expressive, can be decorating pillows with appliqués. Here, as before. case, the key to success is the artistic taste of the author and, preferably, the combination of at least 2 things in an ensemble, and, unlike the use of colors, its meaning can be absolutely clear up to frivolity, as on the left in a row of photos, but obscene morally healthy a person in this composition will see no more than in normal marital relations.

A detailed, multi-valued composition of pillows with appliqués is technically more difficult to perform, and there is a risk of falling into flickering. However, today photo printing on fabric is affordable, and the images are durable and of the same quality as the texture of the material allows. So, when considering a multi-cushion group with pictures, first of all, it is worth considering the option of photo printing on blanks, in the center in the figure, especially since you can select / create pictures and simulate the entire ensemble in advance on a computer.

Note: modern technique of photo printing on fabric allows you to create images that are visually equivalent to embroideries. Patches with printed pictures can also form the basis of the application, on the right in fig.

Shape and Fragment

Most good designers prefer to work with form, considering it to be the root cause of the expressiveness of things, and color, texture and drawing/pattern as factors of the next orders. One-two-three-tone sofa cushions, the aesthetic value of which is achieved by the form, can also be technologically uncomplicated (pos. 1 in the figure) thanks to the use of modern materials, see below.

Working with the form, it becomes possible to apply a new approach to the meaningful decoration of things: modularity, pos. 2. Technologically, in this case, only the labor intensity increases monotonously without the appearance of fundamental difficulties, since all modules assembled into the product are structurally similar and simple. But in such cases, you need to think about how to clean it, unless there is a desire to completely redo it at least once every 1-2 years. A furniture vacuum cleaner and cleaning products for it are understandable, but it is necessary to use them less frequently.

The modular principle also allows, without a significant increase in labor intensity, to create sewn things of a simple form, in which the form nevertheless works for aesthetics. This is the so-called. patchwork technique; simply patchwork. Patchwork is not necessarily something deliberately rough, rough, even clumsy.

Decorative pillows using the patchwork technique can be sewn gracefully and neatly without painful reflections and looking at samples / sketches to the pain in the eyes, pos. 3 and 4. All you need is a key element (mainly in the center), which is in harmony with the overall design of the thing, but also stands out in something. At pos. 3 this is achieved by a pattern of the same tone, but much larger than that of the elements of one diagonal and at the same time, of course, smaller than the solid color fill of the squares of the other. And on pos. Key 4, on the contrary, is distinguished by its shape, small size and relief (bulge).

Key element

In general, a compact key element (elements) is able to give grace to a pillow made in any technique. For example, at pos. Fig. 1, the key is a simple button combined with a twist of patches of fabric with a trivial black and white geometric pattern, down to scraps of an old mattress. In the case of using a brighter and more colorful material instead of a button covered with fabric, a button with a round gathered bow, pos. 4.

At pos. 2 tassels and a button ennoble cushions in modestly colored fabric. This approach is attractive in that it is possible to use furniture upholstery and even technical fabrics that do not get dirty easily, clean well, but are not produced bright and shiny. And on pos. 3 is an example of how brushes add aesthetic value to a pillow with a pattern that is too small for this purpose. Perhaps the larger pattern did not suit the overall design, but the pillow still needed decorative self-sufficiency, so the brushes came to the rescue.

Note: a single brush on the corner of the pillow can play, without losing its aesthetic value, a purely utilitarian role, hiding the last seam, see below. In this case, it can be successfully replaced with a pom-pom. How to make a brush and a pompom with your own hands, see next. fig., but in general, with tassels and pompoms as numerous elements of the main decoration of pillows, you need to be more careful, see below.

Lace, knitting and embroidery

All these ways of decorating pillows (see fig.) have in common that things, on the one hand, are laborious and difficult to perform (unless ready-made lace or organdy is used). On the other hand, lace and knitted cushions on the sofa provide not only a magnificent aesthetic effect, but also respect with prestige: complex high-quality work speaks for itself. Moreover, all such things are cleaned and washed many times: people have been weaving lace and knitting for centuries; both craftsmanship is quite adapted to washing much more harshly than in a modern washing machine with synthetic detergents.

Knitted sofa cushions have another advantage: the last seam is masked without any difficulties, see below. And by the way, thanks to the same circumstance, knitted decorative pillows can be very easy to make if you sew them from old sweaters, as on the right in Fig.

About knitwear

Knitwear as a material for covering the pillow retains all the advantages of knitted items, incl. the ability to conduct a hidden facial seam. It also has its own special merits. Firstly, the softness of the surface - wool sometimes “bites” the face, and knitting from mohair or down is more difficult. Secondly, accessibility: who hasn’t had to guess what to do with a grown-up child’s sweaters-blouses? Stuff with holofiber (see below), sew up the armholes, embellish a little - and in an hour and a half a good original pillow made from improvised materials is ready, see fig. Whether it fits in the living room is a matter of general design, but as a pillow in the nursery it will be quite in its place. You can also sleep on it without risking button prints on your cheek: turn it over, and that's it.

About embroidery on pillows

For those who know how to embroider, a pillow is a fertile canvas in all respects, see fig.:

If you want to embroider over the entire field, you will need a special hoop in the form of a frame; the canvas in it is stretched (unhoisted) with harsh threads. Drawing, pattern - everything is at your discretion and skill, but there are some features compared to embroidery of other things:

  1. No need to embroider with beads, it will be unhygienic and uncomfortable. It is impossible to completely remove particles of dirt from the holes in the beads using any known methods of cleaning pillows, and lying down on the beaded surface is also not very pleasant;
  2. Cross-stitch: satin stitch embroidery under the head/body quickly gets dirty and slips, and wrinkles when washed;
  3. When embroidering all over the field, make a continuous wide edging: it is just as easy to hide the last seam in it as in a knitted pillow.

Relief

Embossed decor: fringes, bows, frills, puffs, intarsia, weaving, voluminous applications (patches), quilting, etc., etc., see fig. - widely used for finishing pillows, because. allows you to achieve stunning aesthetic effects. However, when starting your first (or next) masterpiece, keep in mind, firstly, that to create beauty by the method “I want a lot of everything! And more!”, is not true in principle. You need to understand what you feel, what you want, and express it in the means available to you. Which do not necessarily have to be tricky and intricate.

Secondly, remember - you are not the trusted seamstress of the Marquise Pompadour or the Countess de Monsoreau. The charm created by your own hands, inexpressible to you once and erased. And the point is not only whether this thing will withstand washing, but also whether the machine will withstand washing such a thing. Not that, the hour is uneven, you will have to learn interesting, but by no means simple ways to repair washing machines. Tassel fringe can still be torn off and sewn on again, but for a soiled, labor-intensive pom-pom pillow, it’s hard to think of something better than throwing it away and making a new one. If the spirit is enough for it after such an opportunity.

However, to dissuade people from striving for beauty is meaningless, and worthless. So about every case in Fig. above - 2 ways to make roses from felt or cotton pads. Such flowers, if necessary, are easy to rip, and then re-sew. Or just make new ones to replace worn ones.

And in fig. on the right - advice about bows: take the same principle of conciseness as a basis, it will never fail, and make bows simple so that they can be untied and tied to take care of the pillow. That pillow is made of burlap, but does it look?

About puffs

Puffs on a suitable fabric, smooth and glossy, are another matter. Properly made, they can be vacuumed and washed by hand without any problems. And to make all this splendor is not at all as difficult as it seems. First you need to learn how to read the schemes for assembling puffs (assembling them, as the sewers say).

For an example, schemes for assembling simple puffs are given in fig. below. All puff schemes are built on an orthogonal-diagonal grid, the module of which (the side of the square) is 2-7 cm, depending on the size of the product and the density of the fabric. The grid in the diagram can be shown explicitly, as on the right in the figure, or its nodes are only marked with dots, as on the left. The mesh is applied to the inside of the workpiece with a textile marker in a mirror image.

Further, the areas that are pulled together (collected, collected) into a puff are marked either with converging arrows (on the left) or red lines (on the right), and those that are not pulled together are marked with simple thin lines. You can collect puffs either with one thread or separately. The first way is for the lazy, because a web of threads is formed from the inside. In any case, each puff is assembled with at least 3 stitches 4-5 mm wide, unless otherwise indicated in the notes to the diagram.

Then, the assembly sequence. It is produced in horizontal or vertical rows, again, unless otherwise indicated in the description of the scheme. In the case when the rows are indicated explicitly (on the left), they are displayed in the order of numbering and puffs in the row are also collected by numbers; here - Row1 1-2, 3-4, etc., then the same Row2 and so on. In the absence of an explicit indication of the rows (on the right), the puffs will be assembled simply in the order of numbering; according to the diagram on the right - 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, etc.

Try to collect any piece of fabric in puffs according to these entry-level schemes, and you will see that it will take a little time, even if you collect one at a time. And then watching a selection of master classes on making pillows with puffs that are much more spectacular and complex will not seem like a nightmarish horror:

Video: do-it-yourself puff pillows, master classes

About figurine pillows

The principle “You don’t need a lot of things! And sooner!” especially appropriate for decorative pillows, aesthetically working primarily in form. They are often sewn according to patterns for soft toys, forgetting that a sewn cat cannot wash itself under its tail. And he will have to take on not only room dust, but also grease. Perhaps, especially when it comes to children's pillows, so to speak, salvo emissions of pollution of biogenic origin.

On children's pillows, in addition, not only jump and ride on them; they not only fight and throw them, they also sleep on them. And a dream, leaning sideways, with a head that has moved to one side, is in no way useful to the emerging skeleton. This should be especially taken into account when sewing a children's toy pillow; For example, we give patterns in Fig.

On the left is a fish pillow. The shape and technique of execution seem to be chosen correctly: it is quite subject to care, the last seam can be covered with a tail or fins. But - the head of a sleeping person can slide to one side, a shoulder will stretch behind it and it turns out that we are sleeping crouched. An owl pillow is free from this drawback, at the top right: the “ears” will be held. Whoever tosses and turns in a dream is better to put such a pillow with a deflection between the “ears” to the neck; this pattern is easy to adapt for a cat pillow, only without a tail. In either case, for better ergonomics, it is desirable to make a diagonal cut as a bedding, see below.

Note: for kids - indefatigable sleepy little spinners at the bottom right, a pattern of a special pillow on which the child learns to sleep on his back or on his side, freely stretched out.

Pillows in the form of letters (see Fig.) Moved even closer from pillows to soft toys than pillows-figures: there are many gaps in them, where to sleep there. It is believed that letter pillows are educational, developing, etc. Well, except for the coordination of movements and orientation in space, to climb between them big, like in a maze. As for the speedy learning to read and write, science has not yet been confirmed. Nevertheless, no harm from pillows in the form of letters was also noted, and fun for the child is already good for him.

Large letter cushions must hold their shape well and withstand the corresponding operational stresses, with which little users show amazing ingenuity. One of the variants of this kind of construction is shown in Fig.:

Foam 45 is the highest density furniture foam; we will talk about what holofiber is below. Of course, other ways of sewing letter pillows are also possible, see for example. next video.

Note: diagram in fig. also suitable for stuffing pillows, rolls, if you want to get their ends rounded.

Video: do-it-yourself letter pillows, manufacturing option


About puzzle pillows

Pillow in the form of elements of prefabricated mosaic paintings Puzzle is also quite popular. It is believed that if necessary, a mattress can be assembled from them. You can collect something, yes, yes. But anyone who has tried to sleep on such a mattress knows: it is impossible, it is spreading under you. Pillows, unlike puzzle pieces, are soft, pliable, otherwise not pillows, but some kind of bunks will turn out.

Materials and technique

The fact that when sewing it is necessary to give lapels of 20-30 mm, iron them, sew from the inside out and then turn the product inside out, etc., which is well known, we will not spread. Let's talk in this section about things that beginner seamstresses are not always aware of.

Textile

To properly sew a pillow without a pillowcase that is comfortable, hygienic, practical and durable, you need to choose the right fabric. Firstly, particles of dirt should not stick to its fibers so that they can be sucked out with a vacuum cleaner without the use of detergents. Secondly, the lining fabric should, as far as possible, prevent the migration of dirt into the packing, which is difficult to clean and change. Silk, satin, crepe-satin and their synthetic counterparts satisfy these conditions from light, smooth and bright textile materials. From light, but soft - coarse calico, baize and other linen fabrics. From rough, but very durable - any furniture upholstery materials. Also, depending on the style of execution, it is possible to use any technical fabrics, except, perhaps, propylene matting and the like - too slippery, but at the same time rough and harsh.

Warp and weft

When cutting a pillow, the orientation of the warp and weft threads of the fabric matters. Orthogonal (straight) orientation, when the warp and weft are oriented perpendicular (along) resp. sides, allows you to more accurately maintain the shape of the pillow according to the pattern. But, if a straight-cut pillow with sharp corners is stuffed with sufficiently dense material, its corners may be empty and sag, pos. 1 in fig.

In pillows with a diagonal cut (warp and weft - at 45 degrees to the sides), the corners will always be full, but a “waist” will appear larger than provided by the pattern, pos. 2. If the pillow is elongated, the thinnest "waist" will be on the long sides, pos. 3, which is not always desirable. In this case, the use of satin or twill weave fabric will help to give the pillow a pleasant fullness, pos. 4.

Stuffing

However, feather / down stuffing, firstly, is not elastic enough for decorative pillows, they are not fluffed up like sleeping pillows, because of the imminent damage to the finish from such treatment. Secondly, small soft feathers and natural down for stuffing pillows are hard to reach. In the old days, the whole family collected feathers and down for the wedding featherbed (an indispensable attribute of the dowry) for the future bride.

Nowadays, almost ideal stuffing materials for pillows have been developed - syntepuh and holofiber. In terms of hygiene, they are not inferior to swan's down; however, not for the lifetime of generations, but up to 7-10 years. On the other hand, the pillow decor is no longer alive. But these materials have an undoubted advantage: they are moderately elastic and retain this quality for years.

In essence, sintepukh and holofiber are the same material based on the finest tangled polyester fibers; This is the same polyethylene terephthalate (PET) used to make food utensils and bottles. Sintepukh is produced in the form of fluffy granules (on the left in the figure), and holofiber undergoes additional molding and goes on sale in sheets (plates), on the right there.

Sheet holofiber keeps its shape no worse than the best furniture foam rubber. By the way, in letter pillows (see above), you can make the entire base out of it, but it will cost a lot: sheet holofiber is much more expensive than foam rubber, and the material waste in this case is large. But where sheet holofiber is indispensable is in the manufacture of cloud pillows, etc. of complex irregular shape: the workpiece must be cut off with scissors, and then covered with a cloth without a pattern in place.

Another stuffing material particularly suitable for baby pillows is round silicone granules. They don't get wet, this time. Two - silicone granules can be poured into the cover through an armhole that is only 2-4 cm wide, which greatly simplifies the problem of the last seam. Three - the cover from them can be emptied through the same armhole, and the granules can be washed by hand in a basin. In the car - in no case, it will fail instantly! Washed and dried silicone granules can be put back into the same bag; the pillow will be the same as before.

Note: to expanded polystyrene granules, which fill frameless furniture, all of the above regarding the sanitary and hygienic properties of silicone granules does not apply.

Last seam...

... he is the most difficult. You probably already guessed that this is the very seam that needs to be sewn up from the face when the pillow is already inside out and stuffed. Usually for this it is recommended to sew a zipper in advance. With regard to, say, a pear chair or other frameless furniture, this is really the best option.

But the pillow does not have a bottom and a back, on which they never sit, do not sleep, do not lean on them, and waking up with the imprint of a fastener on your cheek is useless under any circumstances. As for the representatives of the stronger sex, a pillow with a zipper is able to cling to their mustache, beard and just 3-5 day stubble. The pillow sticking to the personality harmonizes perfectly with the rumpled physiognomy, but only in a comical sense.

There is no problem at all with knitted, knitted and embroidered pillows with edging, if the thread for the last seam is taken to match the material of the face: stitches of only 1-2 mm in this case are completely drawn into it and turn out to be quite strong. Good options are also a solid narrow textile piping in the same color as the general one, see fig., lace or pleated border, inlay, etc. However, the universal solution for the last seam is a narrow, 2-4 cm, armhole in the corner. Through it, you can fill the pillow with sintepuh or silicone granules, and mask the front seam with a brush or pompom. Sintepukh, if necessary, is pulled out in shreds with a crochet hook. At first, silicone granules are simply squeezed out, like paste from a tube, and their remainder is removed from the inside-out cover.

About seamless pillows

Representatives of nomadic professions and residents of student hostels from times up to the middle of Khrushchev's have long been familiar with such people. A beautiful scarf allows you to make decorative seamless pillows in just minutes; the basis can be either an ordinary pillow or a piece of foam rubber cut in shape or just a lump of rags. How this magnificent illustration of the saying “Need for inventions is cunning” is created is shown in the figure:

You can tie a curly knot or straighten its ends into a socket and grab it with threads; however, this will be a formal violation of the “seamless” principle. In this case, something like a rose from those described above will also fit in the center.

In Conclusion: Form Functionality

It is difficult to imagine modern life without such a wonderful thing as a pillow. It is no secret that a properly selected pillow will give good and bright dreams.

In stores you can find a huge number of a wide variety of pillows, including pillow toys. Let's figure out together what it is and how you can make them yourself.

What is a pillow toy

Based on the name, a toy pillow is a pillow made in the form of a soft toy (most often some kind of animal). You can play with such a pillow, take it with you to bed, you can sit on it or lie on the floor. Such a pillow can be an excellent decoration for an interior made in a certain style.

Pillow - boat.

The advantage of do-it-yourself pillows-toys is that you can use the remains of shreds or the remains of wool for their manufacture. In this case, the pillow will also perform a developing function: the child will develop sensitivity, and a variety of colors will help to learn the names of colors.

For example, a pillow made in the shape of a typewriter or a house with windows will help not only to learn the names of colors, but also the names of geometric shapes.

Knitting pattern for a pillow-machine

Sewing a pillow-toy with your own hands is not at all difficult. You will need a pattern (which you can draw yourself or use our ideas), fabric, thread with a needle, if available - a sewing machine, knitting threads (if you want to make a knitted toy) and filler.

Pillow-toy "Cat" made of fabric

Pattern of a pillow-toy in the form of a cat

Pillow "Pigvin", crocheted

Knitted horse pillows

When choosing materials for a toy, do not forget that they should not cause allergies, and should not shed.

Choosing an idea for a pillow

The shape of the pillow will depend on the purpose of the pillow.

Roller pillow

Do you want to make a tight roller under your back? The ideas of a dachshund dog, a snake or a train are suitable for you.

Pattern pillow-toy in the form of a dog

Want to make a pillow for the road? Choose semicircular shapes: such a pillow can be placed under the child’s neck:

Pattern pillow-toy "Giraffe"

How to make a pillow in the form of a sweet donut, see the video master class:

sleeping pillow

If the pillow is intended for sleeping, then you should not make hard, noticeably protruding eyes and nose. It is difficult to press your face against such a pillow and fall asleep. It is better to give preference to soft fabrics: fleece or flannel.

Pattern pillow-toy in the form of a lamb

Pillow

seat cushion

Want to be able to sit on your pillow? Try to make it flatter.

Floor pillow

And it is quite possible to put a long pillow on the window or on the floor - from drafts.

Patterns of pillows in the form of a cat and a dog

Pillow filler

There are a few important things to keep in mind when choosing filler for a toy pillow.

Firstly, the toy should be fairly light so that the child can carry it from place to place.

Secondly, such a pillow will often have to be washed. So, the filler should be well wrung out and dry quickly. It is best to use sintepuh or holofiber for stuffing.

Another interesting filler option is a special polystyrene ball filler (the same one that is used in pillows).

And remember that do-it-yourself pillows-toys are a unique product that will make your home cozy and your child will undoubtedly like it!